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State Health Website Offers Information on Mold Clean-Up

This month's heavy rains and widespread flooding provide an ideal environment for mold. State health officials are encouraging people to seek out reliable information when addressing mold growth in their homes or workplace. The Department has information available about mold at http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/eh/mold/.

Water damage to structures usually brought on by the onset of heavy rains can provide the ideal habitat for mold to grow. Molds can cause irritation and breathing problems, especially to people with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory illnesses.

"Our website is a good source of information on how to properly clean-up mold and the conditions that help it to grow," said Chuck Warzecha, Division of Public Health. "You can find easy-to-follow directions for cleaning small areas of mold growth, but also find guidance on where to go and questions to ask if you need to call in a specialist."

Homeowners are cautioned to seek professional assistance for larger amounts of mold and the Department's website lists private companies in Wisconsin that do mold remediation and indoor air quality work. The Department also worked with the Wisconsin Section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association to create a set of resource materials for responding to mold concerns. Those materials are also available on the website.

Molds Are Everywhere

Molds grow abundantly in outdoor plant and soil materials and produce spores that are normally found in both indoor and outdoor dust. Regardless of where you are, breathing air with high levels of mold spores can be irritating and can aggravate allergies and asthma. More serious health effects can be a concern when exposures to mold spores are very high, such as in sawmills, grain elevators, and some agricultural settings.

"Simply testing for mold is not the answer," Warzecha said. "Indoor mold growth is only one symptom of a larger problem of moisture intrusion. Damp buildings can lead to a number of other problems such as bacteria and dust mites-the key is to correct the moisture problem."

For more information on mold, visit http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/eh/mold/

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Last Revised:  July 12, 2010